Of Vampires and Football
Or werewolves and baseball?
I like football. I run a fantasy team every year and watch a game or two every week. Last year, during the first round of the playoffs, I did something completely stupid. I put my little boy in time out…
My almost two-year-old turned off the TV in the middle of the game.
I was so upset that I would have to turn the TV back on and I might miss a game changing play, that I scolded my son and put him in time out. After thinking about how stupid I was for a couple of seconds, I felt horrible. I had just elevated football above my own family. I was becoming “that guy.” The NFL was becoming my god if it was not already.
This year, I changed my priorities a bit.
I ignore football more and play with my kids. What this means is, I usually don’t watch an entire game and I (heaven forbid) cannot keep up on my fantasy stats. I am still rather embarrassed it has come to this. I was not supposed to be the guy who worshiped other guys running around a field chasing a leather ball. I was not supposed to be the guy worshiping the image of a bird (I’m a Falcons fan) every Sunday.
Before you point your finger…
I am not trying to lessen my guilt or say I am justified because of the actions of others. I am, however, pointing out what I have seen take place over the last two weeks or so. Twilight has taken over the world. I am not picking on the oddly successful franchise alone. As humans, we tend to find something to worship. In my case it was the NFL, for others it is Twilight. Some worship drugs, sex, drinking, video games, whatever. I am just choosing the “Paranormal Erotica” known as Twilight because it has become a huge object of worship.
Driscoll said, “Humans are created as worshipers. They will all worship something.”
I believe in many cases it comes by subtly. One day we are enjoying a novel or a football game, and then, suddenly, we are devoting an inordinate amount of time and resources to it. My case in point; while driving to work today, a radio morning show was taking phone calls from people who planned to go to the midnight showing of the “undead love fest.” One lady called in and stated she would see the premier (at midnight tonight) and then again the next evening and possibly once more over the weekend. She wanted to go the first time so she could be on (and trust me, I have no idea what the hell any of this means) “Team Edward” and then a second time so she could be on “Team Jacob.” Not sure why she is going a third time…maybe there is a “Team Dracula” she hopes to join.
The radio DJ’s were so jealous…they could only see it twice this weekend.
We, as humans, have elected to worship some odd things. For me it was athletes, for others, it is fanciful stories about blood-sucking teenagers who fall in lust with each other. Have we ever stopped to see how shallow our idols are? In my case, one high ankle sprain and my idol is out 4 weeks. I will be forced to redirect my worship elsewhere during that time. For others, the end of a book series means the worship of paraphernalia must take its place.
I have nothing against entertainment in general.
What I do get upset about is idol worship. I feel like we often get duped into worshiping some pretty silly stuff. We will watch people move heaven and earth to obtain it. We will pour endless finances into supporting our temporary god. $10 for movie tickets, $20 a book. $100 for a replica jersey. $80 to go see the game.
***SIDE RANT***
But then we get so upset when we have to tithe to a church or pay a pastor a salary. We can shell out hundreds of dollars on TV’s, football games, books, movies, and toys, but support someone who is called to SPREAD THE FREAKING GOSPEL full time? NEVER! Our money is often spent on supporting billionaires and celebrities, but we seldom support homeless shelters and churches. Honestly, we should be ashamed. I am ashamed.
***End Side Rant***
I think it is time we inspected ourselves and really figured out our priorities. We should look at ourselves in the mirror and search our hearts to find out who our god really is.
-Don-
